A litre of fuel, yesterday, sold between N300 and N400 in Imo State, due to shut down of filling stations in the state.

The ugly development, which caused confusion among motorists in the morning hours, was said to be as a result of an encounter between a tanker driver and a member of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, who allegedly shot the tanker driver, along Elele road, Port Harcourt, Wednesday night.

Irked by the outcome of the scene, the tanker drivers were said to have directed their members to suspend operations until the security operative involved was produced, before they can resume operations. Meanwhile, filling stations in Imo State, have joined as a way of expressing their disapproval. According to a manager of a filling station along Okigwe road in Imo State, some who have defied the order from above have sold the product at an exorbitant prize.

Newsmen monitored the development in major streets of Douglas, Egbu, Okigwe, Onitsha, Port-Harcourt road and discovered that not all the filling stations were closed at the time of filing this report. According to him, some who opened for business did not sell at the pump prize of N145 per litre. A bus driver, Kyrian Onyema who spoke to newsmen said: “I came out this morning and saw there was no fuel and when I saw fuel to buy, they were selling at N300 and N400 instead of 145 naira.

This is too much for me.” The situation also affected transport fares especially within Owerri metropolis where citizens had to pay twice of what they used to pay . Some who came all the way from the rural areas were stranded, describing it as unexpected and said it negatively affected their budget for the day.

I feel bad that our political class is hypocritical with the truth when they preach the Unity of Nigeria. The only time unity becomes sacrosanct is when revenue of oil accrued to the country is to be shared among states in the country but when it comes to implementing the federal character, infrastructural development and establishment of government Institutions across the states of the federation it become sectional and selective. I'm sadden by the the situation where among the mention ongoing federal government projects and the Institutions approved to be established recently in the country, I have not heard any of it been approved or site in Imo state despite been among the oil producing states or any other part of the south east. the only thing I hear is baby factory discovered in a particular village, dilapidation of infrastructures all over the south east and now fuel been sold for N400/L in Imo state. One question I have for every citizen of this county called Nigeria. Are we thoroughly united as we claim?

Name changi, make we no complain. It has been on the news that #145 per litre PMS would be unsustainable. Many quarters are denying it, but I known one day Nigerians will wake up to a new price of #200 - #400 per litre PMS. I wish Nigerians were more inquisitive about the change campaign of APC before chanting it.